PLANS for a solar park and 110 homes a mile apart in Sedbury will go before Forest councillors next week.

Bee Green Solar – the company behind the recently refused scheme for a solar park at Vantage Point Business Park, Mitcheldean – has submitted the plan for almost 20,000 solar panels near the Sedbury Park nursing home on Beachley Road.

The application for 110 homes next to Wyedean School has been submitted on behalf of Barrett Homes.

Members of the Forest Council's planning committee are being advised to reject the solar park but to approve the new housing estate.

Council officers say the solar park should be refused planning permission because of the impact it will have on the "setting" of the grade II* listed nursing home.

Despite local opposition, they say the new estate will not cause "any material harm to the character and appearance, living conditions and highway safety of the surrounding area than already exists."

But local people have written to the council calling the plan "ludicrous and impractical" and "a stupid" idea because the area at the roundabout near the school is a bottleneck at peak times.

The committee will also consider an application to change the bar area of the former Live and Let Live pub in Tutshill to a hairdressers. Planning officers are recommending approval.

Councillors will also decide on an application to build 12 timber arched bunkhouses at the National Diving and Activity Centre at Tidenham. The recommendation is to approve the scheme.

The committee meets at the Forest Council offices on Tuesday afternoon (March 11) at 2pm.